Writing in Biology

Semiarid deserts are primarily found in Europe, Northern Asia, and the western states of the United States and are significantly less harsh as dry deserts. Semiarid deserts have two main seasons, summer and winter. The semiarid desert has an average temperature of 23° C during the summer, though it can reach 38° C during the day and 10° C at night. During the winter, temperatures can reach as low as -3° C. Average rainfall is very low, at 2-4 cm a year (The Desert Biome).

Although rainfall is minimal, dew accumulates on vegetation during the night, which can equal or even surpass the total annual rainfall. The terrain is comprised of relatively flat land surrounded by large rocky mountains. The soil found in semiarid deserts consists of loose innutritious rock underneath a layer of fine sand. This type of soil composition makes it hard for large vegetation to survive, leaving only small trees, shrubs, and durable cacti to grow. Animals use the shade from this vegetation as protection from the sun. Because of the limited vegetation and food sources, animal populations are dispersed. The animals that have managed to survive in this climate are small and include lizards, snakes, and insects (Major Types of Deserts on Earth). These organisms, including the newly discovered Bradyrhinus gironi, or the American Rhingon, have been able to survive in this environment because they have adapted to the harsh conditions.

Engaging in physical activity for me personally was not challenging at all. Since elementary school I have always been on sports teams and enjoyed working out at the gym. Starting this activity was not a challenge for me because I have already been physically active and include physical activity in my daily schedule. Whenever I sign up for classes for the next semester, I always edit it and put in time slots when I have to go to the gym, I treat it as another class that I have to take. I am also in ROTC and have to wake up early in the morning Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to do Physical Training which also helps me get the recommended amount of physical activity in. I’ve always had the motivation to go to the gym and get into shape, however the only variable that would cause me to not go to the gym and get physical activity is that sometimes I am way too busy to go to the gym, I genuinely think that I cannot make time for the gym with these circumstances because I wake up very early 3 times a week, before the gym opens, and have to prioritize academics over physical training. I believe this is acceptable in my case because I am very active compared to most people.

What is Sjogren's syndrome? (also known as SIcca's syndrome)
It is an autoimmune disease that affects the various organs (pancreas and the liver) and causes severe dryness in the mouth and eyes. There are various studies on this disease but scientists are still trying to figure out the genetic causes (and/or environmental). A study done in 2013 by Christopher J. Lessard looks at "variants at multiple loci implicated in both innate and adaptive immune responses are associated with Sjögren’s syndrome." The contributors to this study formed some type of database to contain all the information about the disease in one place along with the various case studies.
There are 6 figures in this study display the information of the genotyping of both controls and people that exhibit this disease. The figures show the data in various ways. Figure 1 is very neat and easy to read with minimal colors (black and white) and only pointing out the important things that stood out with some red color. Figure 2 contains 6 images of graphs that display the zoomed in data with more detail that was pointed out in red in Figure 1. Table 1 is a little difficult to read because there are no grids separating out the numbers so it is hard to distinguish the columns and rows. Figure 3 has 9 images of statistical graphs that are all the same color therefore it is not as visually appealing. I am sure that if they had to make a poster they would have made each graph different colors so they stand out more and don't all blend together. Table 2 looks just like Table 1 therefore it is also hard to read. Same thing goes for Table 3
This quick figure analysis has helped me sort out some things not to include on the final poster. Even though I am only comparing the final poster project to a paper, it still provides some insight on things that look good and things that don't

World War II opened the door for women to enter the workspace due to the large number of vacated positions that were available while the males of the country were overseas. Since this initial entry, rate of employed women has been steadily increasing. However, data shows that, on average, women have not been equally compensated since 1979 at the latest and this social issue has been dubbed the “gender pay gap”. Those who support this issue claim that women have been historically paid less on the dollar compared to their male counterparts due to conscious or subconscious discrimination secondary to long standing gender roles and responsibilities. There is debate concerning the validity of these claims and many have questioned the analysis of the data presented; claiming that these views exclude certain variables that can account for these differences. While it is clear that there is a difference between pay, the underlying source of this disparity has not been readily identified.

While a transition to a less female dominated career may help alleviate some of the educational factors regarding the pay difference there another contributing circumstance that is too dominated by the females. There is a direct association between the average age a woman rears a child and a sharp decline in their average pay (Economist) This correlation, dubbed the “motherhood cost” is multifactorial and involves insufficient maternity leave policies and underlying social expectations of child care. Women status post birth are forced to work fewer hours or interrupt their careers entirely in order to raise their children.  This responsibility and lack of flexibility can influence potential future promotions as well as interfere with potential return to the job market. Furthermore, there are social stigmas that make women apprehensive to avoid becoming a housewife or to put their children into a daycare facility to continue with their career (Economist). These issues are compounded by a contrast in the expectations revolving men both in the workplace and at home when considering child care. An increase in true co-parenting culture, better maternity and paternity policies as well as an emphasis on company empathy would help mitigate the professional damage that raising a child can do to one’s career.

hormonal cycle and ovarian cycle are related
H derived from growing follicle in ovary
growing follicle produces hormones
ovulation = the big spike in LH
estrogen v progesterone graph
thickness of uterus, needs strogen as primer and progesterone increases the endometrium of the uterus
estrogen causes synthesis of prog receptors, no estrogen = no prog
estrogen has proliferatice effect

ovarian cycle, primary follicles grow under FSH (FSH causes them to grow)
LH causes ovulation itself
LH then causes glutimization of corpus lucium that remains in the ____
corpus ludium produces prog, req’d fo ruterine lining for pregnancy,
no progesterone = corpus involutes and creates scar tissue

follicles all present at birth, set at fetal growth, grow in response to FSH
inc in granulosa cells, thecal cells
hostilogical prep of oocyte image
folliculum epithelium is the granular cell
thecal cells outside of granulosa cells (internal and external types)
thecal cells are making steroids
LH stimulates estrogen production from thecal cells
FSH stimulates granulosa cells and LH stimulates thecal cells*** to make hormone

Our proposed research question is: How does microinvertebrate soil diversity vary with proximity to trees, water sources, and buildings. Groups will collect soil samples at varying distances from these three variables, then count and identify the species present. Information obtained from the soil samples will help in quantifying species diversity and soil diversity. Species diversity is an indicator of tree and soil sustainability that will provide data for future tree and soil management and be beneficial to the UMASS Amherst campus local climate.
Our proposed research question is: How does microinvertebrate soil diversity vary with proximity to trees, water sources, and buildings. Groups will analyze soil samples collected at varying distances from these three variables, then count and identify the species present. To extract soil dwelling organisms from the samples, groups will use Berlese funnels. The information from each soil sample will help in quantifying soil diversity and provide an understanding of the UMASS campus’ environmental sustainability.

This paper’s objective was to explore the possibility of restoring movement to a patient with tetraplegia from a high-cervical spinal cord injury. In experiments done previously, the patient usually had a lower and less severe injury so there was less loss of function. This experiment aimed to stimulate both a reach and grasp movement using a combination of iBCIs and FES systems. Patients with these injuries need constant aid so this is an attempt to let the patient become self-sufficient. 

This experiment used a man with a severe spinal cord injury that occurred eight years before the testing. Its important to do these tests on humans because animals do not get these types of injuries and survive. The long period of time between injury and testing eliminates the possibility that the movement stimulated is a result of residual function in the muscles. The severity just shows how effective the systems are even with so much loss of function.

            After a three month camping trip in the Amazon rainforest, field scientist Chandley McKenzie has reported the discovery of a brand new species: the Magnacide dynaphyll, or the Snanker. McKenzie was there to research Amazonian plant diversity and planned to stay for another three months, however the excitement of reporting this new species overpowered her plans. “I needed to spread the word”, the young field scientist explained. “My excitement for the Snanker cannot be contained.” It all began when McKenzie was studying the flora in the dense tropical rain forest of the Amazon River Basin, illustrating the very tall evergreen trees of the rainforest’s canopy as well as various orchids, rubber trees, fruit trees, and kapok trees in her field journal (Study.com). These forests have several layers of vegetation including the under-story, sub-canopy, canopy, and sometimes emergent trees that surpass the canopy.

The species’ fur is less dense than most bear species, better suiting it for the balmy climate of Madagascar. Their fur is a dark brown color with large swathes of dark mossy green to help camouflage them in the shadowy green cover of the jungle. The most prominent sexual dimorphic character is the presence of horns on the males. These horns resemble those of a bighorn sheep, though they aren’t as large relative to their body size as that of a sheep. The males use these horns for fighting, but they also play a large role in the unique hunting rituals that these animals have. Their paws have longer toes than a black bear, as well as longer claws, allowing for better grip on trees as well as better weaponry for hunting.